Risk Influence of Some Environmental and Behavioral Factors on Air Contamination in the Operating Room: An Experimental Study

Prospero Albertini, Pierangela Mainardi, Maria Bagattini, Annalisa Lombardi, Patrizia Riccio, Maria Ragosta, Francesca Pennino (), Dario Bruzzese and Maria Triassi
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Prospero Albertini: Department of Public Health, University “Federico II”, Via Sergio Pansini N° 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Pierangela Mainardi: Department of Public Health, University “Federico II”, Via Sergio Pansini N° 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Maria Bagattini: Department of Public Health, University “Federico II”, Via Sergio Pansini N° 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Annalisa Lombardi: Department of Public Health, University “Federico II”, Via Sergio Pansini N° 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Patrizia Riccio: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University “Federico II”, Via Sergio Pansini N° 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Maria Ragosta: School of Engineering, University of Basilicata, V.le dell’Ateneo Lucano N° 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Francesca Pennino: Department of Public Health, University “Federico II”, Via Sergio Pansini N° 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Dario Bruzzese: Department of Public Health, University “Federico II”, Via Sergio Pansini N° 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
Maria Triassi: Department of Public Health, University “Federico II”, Via Sergio Pansini N° 5, 80131 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 16, 1-12

Abstract: Air contamination in operating rooms (ORs) depends on the conditions of the room and on activities therein performed. Methodologies of air quality assessment in ORs are often inadequately described in the scientific literature, and the time required for a change in status in air quality is never taken into account. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the state and the presence of human operators on air quality by implementing a precise measurement protocol that also took into account the time required for changes in the room to affect air pollution. As the main indicators of air pollution, bacterial load and concentration of airborne dust were measured. The results showed that: the use of surgical masks by operators in the OR did not significantly affect bacterial load within a distance of 2 m; keeping OR doors open did not induce a significant increase in bacterial load and of 5 μm particles while 10 μm particles concentration was positively affected; and air pollution measured with open doors was not significantly different from that due to the presence of two staff members, whether or not they were wearing masks. The results clarified the role of some factors on air pollution in ORs.

Keywords: pollution in the operating theatres; measurement protocol; airborne microorganisms; dust concentration; surgical masks; doors opening in operating theatres (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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